W♥M

Minneapolis: July 22, 2016 (a pair of hands)

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area from July 22, 2016 (a pair of ‘Hands’).

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Bear Hands Brooklyn-based indie rock band Bears Hands (guitarist/singer Dylan Rau, guitarist Ted Feldman, bassist Val Loper and drummer TJ Orscher) is back with their third ... Moth & the Flame On their brief set, TMTF played tracks from their debut 2011 album and also some tracks from their Ampersand (&) EP, including "Sorry" and "Wishing Well". ....

BEAR HANDS
at 7th Street Entry
Friday, 07/22/16, 8pm ($13/$15)
first-avenue.com

New York’s Bear Hands (not to be confused with Bear’s Den) is back on tour, this time promoting their third album You'll Pay for This, which was co-produced by guitarist Ted Feldman and longtime Bear Hands collaborator James Brown (Foo Fighters, Arctic Monkeys) and mixed by Alan Moulder (Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, Foals).

Since its release in February, the first single "2AM" has been gaining momentum at radio, securing #27 at Alternative Radio, #9 on Alt-Nation's #18 and #1 Most Added this week.

Opening will be The Moth and the Flame, who we previously caught earlier in February 2016 as part of the SiriusXM’s “Advanced Placement Tour”.

Tour dates:

7/17 - Memphis, TN - The Hi-Tone Cafe #
7/18 - Lexington, KY - Manchester Music Hall*
7/20 - Des Moines, IA - Wooly’s*
7/21 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown*
7/22 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry #
7/23 - Fargo, ND - The Aquarium #
7/25 - Fort Collins, CO - Aggie Theatre*
7/26 - Colorado Springs, CO - Black Sheep*
7/27 - Albuquerque, NM - El Rey Theatre*
7/29 - Tucson, AZ - The Rock*
7/30 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom*
7/31 - Bakersfield, CA - B Ryder’s*
8/01 - Santa Ana, CA - The Observatory*
8/03 - Santa Barbara, CA - Soho Music Club#
8/04 - Santa Cruz, CA - The Catalyst*
8/05 - Fresno, CA - Strummer’s*
8/06 - Sacramento, CA - Ace Of Spades*
8/07 - Eugene, OR - HiFi #
8/13 - Portland, OR - 94/7 Birthday Bash
10/7-9 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits

# Headlining
* w/ Atlas Genius

Read More Cloud Becomes Your Hand Brooklyn sextet Cloud Becomes Your Hand will be releasing Rest in Fleas on May 27, 2016 via Northern Spy Records. Led by multi­-instrumentalist and .... Controversial New Skinny Pill The Controversial New Skinny Pill, The first band You turn to for the soundtrack to a UFO sex-cult party ....

CLOUD BECOMES YOUR HAND
at The White Page
Friday, 07/22/16, 6:30pm ($8)
the-white-page.org

Speaking of hands... Brooklyn’s Cloud Becomes Your Hand (multi­-instrumentalist and composer Stephe Cooper, with drummer Booker Stardrum and midi Sam Sowyrda, violinist Hunter Jack, synth Weston Minissali, and bassist Simon Hanes) will be playing the White Page in south Minneapolis (3400 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407).

We previously written about the band’s release of Rest in Fleas earlier in April 2016.

Also on the bill, Chicago’s Wei Zhongle (now in their fourth iteration of the band, led by John McCowen), Gem Jones, The Controversial New Skinny Pill, and a performance piece by Which Sister?

Cloud Becomes Your Hand’s tour dates:

7/16 -- Boston, MA @ the Record Company
7/17 -- Montreal, QC @ Brasserie Beaubien
7/19 -- Toronto, ON @ Double Double Land
7/20 -- Ypsilanti, MI @ Dreamland Theater
7/21 -- Chicago, IL @ the Hideout
7/22 -- Minneapolis, MN @ White Page
7/23 -- Madison, WI @ Mickey's
7/24 -- Chicago, IL @ Archer Beach Haus
7/25 -- Cincinnati, OH @ the Comet
7/26 -- Pittsburgh, PA @ Pgh Art House
7/27 -- Ithaca, NY @ Sacred Root Kava
7/28 -- Brooklyn, NY @ Alphaville

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ facebook.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

SiriusXM Presents Alt Nation's Advanced Placement Tour at Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis (29 February 2016)

Pop Etc Setlist Please Don't Forget Me Vice Your Heart Is a Weapon Unintentional “World” Block I Wanted To Change The World But The World Changed Me Mad World (Tears for Fears cover) Backwards World What Am I Becoming? Running in Circles Banners Setlist Embers Back When Ghosts Firefly To the Storm Holy Ground Start A Riot Gold Dust Shine A Light Moth & Flame Setlist Red Flag Live While I Breathe Sorry Empire & the Sun 10 Years Alone Silver Tongue Young & Unafraid Wishing Well Tour Dates 03/01/16 Chicago, IL Subterranean 03/02/16 Detroit, MI Shelter 03/04/16 Toronto, ON Adelaide Hall 03/07/16 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall 03/08/16 New York, NY Santos Party House 03/10/16 Philadelphia, PA The Foundry 03/11/16 Washington, DC U Street Music Hall 03/12/16 Atlanta, GA Terminal West 03/15/16 Houston, TX Bronze Peacock 03/19/16 Dallas, TX House Of Blues 03/21/16 Denver, CO Marquis Theater 03/22/16 Salt Lake City, UT Club Sound 03/24/16 Seattle, WA Chop Suey 03/25/16 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge 03/28/16 San Francisco, CA Social Hall SF 03/30/16 Los Angeles, CA Bahia 03/31/16 San Diego, CA House Of Blues Read More Pop Etc Although the name Pop Etc might not ring a bell, you might know them as The Morning Benders. Derek wrote about the band: “Since 2005, founder/frontman Chris Chu and friends (drummer Julian Harmon, bassist Tim Or .... Banners Liverpool’s Banners, with Utah’s The Moth and the Flame, and California’s Pop Etc, will be on tour as part of the SiriusXM Presents Alt Nation Advanced Placement Tour. This is Banners’ very first USA tour, and it’s kicking .... Moth & the Flame On their brief set, TMTF played tracks from their debut 2011 album and also some tracks from their Ampersand (&) EP, including "Sorry" and "Wishing Well". ....

The SiriusXM’s “Alt Nation’s Advanced Placement Tour”, featuring Pop Etc, Banners, and The Moth & The Flame, just started their tour at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis last night (February 29th).

Doors to the venue was supposed to be opened at 7pm, but the three bands were all still doing soundchecks while fans lined up outside the entrance for about 40 minutes. Since it’s the first night of the SiriusXM-sponsored tour, we figured the bands and tour managers were all still figuring out scheduling and adapting to the rough touring life.

The Moth & the Flame

The Moth & the Flame started off the evening. We’ve seen them at Bootleg Theater (Nov 2012), Satellite (Sep 2013), and Mill City Nights (Oct 2014), so we know these guys are not an “emerging” band. By the way they kicked off their set with the catchy “Red Flag” song, you can tell they’ve been around.

Singing in front of a giant upside-down ampersand looked really cool, especially with the way the lights would change with the songs, and the sign also doubled as the band’s icon (you instantly recognize it as part of the branding for The Moth & the Flame).

The Moth & the Flame’s latest is called Young & Unafraid, and they seemed pretty excited to play some new tracks. For their latest single, a break-up song called “Empire & the Sun”, singer Brandon Robbins explained that it was “probably the most emo song we’ve ever written... so prepared to be ‘emoed’!”

Of course, the song that got the best response from the audience was for the title track of Young & Unafraid, which started off with a great acoustic guitar intro, but leading into a non-stop youth anthem that had their fans singing along.

Banners

Liverpool’s Banners traveled the most distance to be with us for the tour, and singer Michael Nelson made it known that his band spent 14 hours in a plane. It’s also Nelson’s first time in the USA, so he’s making the most of it, taking in everything North America has to offer. In addition to acknowledging just how massive the US is, he also mentioned that he saw American flags everywhere! If you live here, you barely notice these things.

Banners had a full band (keys, guitars, bass, drums) and they played a solid, high energy 40-minute set. Although the band is quite new (just recently only released his debut EP in January 2016), hearing and seeing how fans were interacting with the band, we’re pretty sure Banners will be playing bigger and better venues in the future.

Key singles like “Ghosts”, “Start A Riot” and “Gold Dust” went over incredibly well with the audience.

As with all the bands on this bill, we felt they all could be headliners. With that said, the last band to take the stage was Berkeley’s Pop Etc (previously known as The Morning Benders). Again, we wrote about the Morning Benders in 2008, right about the time they went on tour with The Kooks, Death Cab for Cutie, and Ra Ra Riot.

The trio (brothers Chris & Jon Chu, and Julian Harmon) are currently touring in support of their latest album Souvenir. Singer Chris Chu mentioned that they’ve played it all (large sized venues with The Wombats for example), but they were really comfortable with a smaller club size of the Triple Rock Social Club.

As previously mentioned with the ‘first night of the tour’ problem, the band ran into some “cables” problems after “Your Heart Is a Weapon” and prior to their Tears for Fears cover song “Mad World” (which sounded more in the upbeat/pop-friendly Pop Etc-styling than the slower/depressing version by Gary Jules). Although Chris thought his “We got all new cables” joke was funny, I honest thought their unintentional “World” block of “I Wanted To Change The World But The World Changed Me”, “Mad World”, and “Backwards World” was the funniest. If they would only cover Inspiral Carpets’ “Two Worlds Collide”, that would be over the top.

After thanking the crowd for staying late on a Monday night, the band finished their set with “Running in Circles”, which is perhaps the highlight of the show. Everyone was hand-clapping to the song and did a last-ditch effort to dance to Pop Etc.

If you love Alt Nation, you definitely need to check out the SiriusXM’s “Alt Nation’s Advanced Placement Tour”, featuring Pop Etc, Banners, and The Moth & The Flame. The three bands are in Chicago tonight.

Pop Etc at Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis (29 Feb 2016)

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Minneapolis: February 29, 2016

Here are some shows taking place in the Minneapolis/St Paul area on February 29, 2016.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Moth & the Flame On their brief set, TMTF played tracks from their debut 2011 album and also some tracks from their Ampersand (&) EP, including "Sorry" and "Wishing Well". .... The Morning Benders On the other hand, The Morning Benders' (MySpace) 100% totally free album of cover songs, aptly titled The Bedroom Covers (download it here), is a somewhat different creature--equally as relaxing, but much less alt-country and much ....

BANNERS
with Moth & the Flame, Pop Etc
at Triple Rock Social Club
Monday, 02/29/16, 7pm ($15)
triplerocksocialclub.com

Liverpool’s Banners, with Utah’s The Moth and the Flame, and California’s Pop Etc, will be on tour as part of the SiriusXM Presents Alt Nation Advanced Placement Tour. This is Banners’ very first USA tour, and it’s kicking off in Minneapolis on February 29th.

The last time we saw The Moth and the Flame, they opened up for Placebo at Mill City Night in October 2014... but we’ve been writing and covering them since 2012.

Although the name Pop Etc might not ring a bell, you might know them as The Morning Benders. Derek wrote about the band: “Since 2005, founder/frontman Chris Chu and friends (drummer Julian Harmon, bassist Tim Or, and guitarist/organist Joe Ferrell, all fellow alums of UC Berkeley) have been producing upbeat, bouncy guitar-pop with a sunny Californian sound.” (read more at weheartmusic.com). Pop Etc’s new album Souvenir is out now.

Tour Dates

02/29/16 Minneapolis, MN Triple Rock Social Club
03/01/16 Chicago, IL Subterranean
03/02/16 Detroit, MI Shelter
03/04/16 Toronto, ON Adelaide Hall
03/07/16 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall
03/08/16 New York, NY Santos Party House
03/10/16 Philadelphia, PA The Foundry
03/11/16 Washington, DC U Street Music Hall
03/12/16 Atlanta, GA Terminal West
03/15/16 Houston, TX Bronze Peacock
03/19/16 Dallas, TX House Of Blues
03/21/16 Denver, CO Marquis Theater
03/22/16 Salt Lake City, UT Club Sound
03/24/16 Seattle, WA Chop Suey
03/25/16 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge
03/28/16 San Francisco, CA Social Hall SF
03/30/16 Los Angeles, CA Bahia
03/31/16 San Diego, CA House Of Blues

Photo: Ann Buster Read More Blessthefall I first heard of them when I read that Escape the Fate's new singer Craig Mabbitt was originally in it. I'm a huge fan of his vocals and lyrics, along with Escape the Fate and the Word Alive so I was excited to hear more of his work. .... Miss May I Miss May I was the only American band on the bill last night. They are a melodic hardcore band from Ohio that has toured with bands such as Killswitch Engage, Trivium and Bullet For My Valentine. I saw these guys this past February ....

BLESSTHEFALL
at Mill City Nights
Monday, 02/29/16, 6:30pm ($20/$22)
millcitynights.com

The last time we heard about Blessthefall was that they were releasing To Those Left Behind on September 18, 2015, via Fearless Records. The band, having been one of the headliners at Vans Warped Tour will be back in the state for their “Drop the Gloves” tour.

Joining the the Arizona-based metalcore band will be Miss May I (who were recently in Minneapolis for the Noise Presents: Ire Tour - despite the fact that they are not Australian), The Plot In You, Sirens and Sailors, and A War Within.

Tour Dates

2/26 – Salt Lake City, Utah @ Complex
2/27 – Denver, Colo. @ Summit Music Hall
2/29 – Minneapolis, Minn. @ Mill City Nights
3/01 – Chicago, Ill. @ Metro
3/02 – Detroit, Mich. @ St. Andrews Hall
3/03 – Toronto, Ontario @ Phoenix Concert
3/04 – Montreal, Quebec @ Virgin Mobile Corona
3/05 – New York, N.Y. @ Webster Hall
3/06 – Boston, Mass. @ TBA
3/07 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ Theater of Living Arts
3/08 – Baltimore, Md. @ Rams Head Live
3/10 – Atlanta, Ga. @ The Masquerade
3/11 – Tampa, Fla. @ The Orpheum
3/13 – Orlando, Fla. @ Plaza Live
3/14 – Pensacola, Fla. @ Vinyl
3/17 – San Antonio, Texas @ Alamo City
3/18 – Houston, Texas @ Warehouse Live
3/20 – Oklahoma City, Okla. @ Farmers Public Market
3/21 – Albuquerque, N.M. @ Sunshine Theater

Read More Bruce Springsteen More recently, the massive vault of vintage Springsteen recordings was opened, beginning with a 2012 performance at the Apollo in NYC, originally broadcast on Sirius XM, and now a radio simulcast show from Cleveland in 1978, taken .…

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
at Xcel Energy Center
Monday, 02/29/16, 6:30pm ($57.50+)
xcelenergycenter.com

Baby, we were born to tour... The boss, Bruce Springsteen, and his The E Street Band, is Minnesota. As usual with these stadium shows, ticket prices goes up to the $150 range (pre-taxes and fees). Ticket prices too high? No worries, you can always download his official live recordings directly at live.brucespringsteen.net ... a profitable move on his part for steady income.

Tour Dates

02/25/16 Buffalo, NY First Niagara Center
02/27/16 Rochester, NY Blue Cross Arena
02/29/16 Saint Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center
03/03/16 Milwaukee, WI BMO Harris Bradley Center
03/06/16 St. Louis, MO Chaifetz Arena
03/10/16 Phoenix, AZ Talking Stick Resort Arena
03/13/16 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena
03/15/16 Los Angeles, CA Memorial Sports Arena
03/17/16 Los Angeles, CA Memorial Sports Arena
03/19/16 Los Angeles, CA Memorial Sports Arena
03/22/16 Portland, OR Moda Center
03/24/16 Seattle, WA KeyArena At Seattle Center
03/28/16 New York, NY Madison Square Garden Arena
03/31/16 Denver, CO Pepsi Center
04/03/16 Oklahoma City, OK Chesapeake Energy Arena
04/05/16 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
04/07/16 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
04/10/16 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
04/12/16 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center
04/14/16 Auburn Hills, MI The Palace Of Auburn Hills
04/18/16 University Park, PA Bryce Jordan Center
04/20/16 Baltimore, MD Royal Farms Arena
04/23/16 Brooklyn, NY Barclays Center
04/25/16 Brooklyn, NY Barclays Center

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Minneapolis: January 29 - January 31, 2015

Here are some shows taking place in Minneapolis/St Paul from January 29 to January 31, 2015.

Read more Minneapolis Music Guide.

Read More Extreme Extreme II: Pornograffitti (A Funked Up Fairy Tale) first came out on A&M Records in August 1990, the follow-up to the band’s 1989 debut. The album is considered, according to the newly penned liner notes ...

EXTREME
at Mill City Nights
Thursday 01/29/15, 8pm ($49.95)
millcitynights.com

"More Than Words" by Extreme was the #1 song of 1991 Summer. I can distinctively remember so many of my school classmates (especially the girls) were into these guys.

Like many bands from the 90s, Extreme is back, this time touring in support of their 25th anniversary of their most popular album Pornograffitti (which featured "More Than Words"). The rock band will be performing the entire album front to back, plus a few other surprises.

I have seen some of these album tours before, they can be somewhat challenging to the performers because they have to change various instruments (or have a dedicated pre-tuner) when they switch songs.

If you can't make it to a show, the band recently announced Extreme II: Pornograffitti (A Funked Up Fairy Tale) will be re-issued as a deluxe edition. You know, I love my Deluxe Editions, so this album is on my radar. Extreme II: Pornograffitti (A Funked Up Fairy Tale) will be out this January 20th and will contain the full second album, plus rare mixes and b-sides (re-mastered from the original tapes).

Since it's 25 years later, don't expect slow burning cigarette lighters at their shows, but instead, a lot of camera phone lights slowly waving in the air...

Pornograffitti tour dates:

01/18/15 Poughkeepsie, NY The Chance Theatre
01/20/15 Englewood, NJ Bergen Performing Arts Ctr.
01/21/15 Boston, MA House Of Blues Boston
01/22/15 Jim Thorpe, PA Penn's Peak
01/24/15 Westbury, NY The Space At Westbury
01/25/15 Baltimore, MD Baltimore Soundstage
01/27/15 Cincinnati, OH Bogart's
01/28/15 Chicago, IL House Of Blues
01/29/15 Minneapolis, MN Mill City Nights
01/31/15 Battle Creek, MI FireKeepers Casino

design by Sonny Kay Read More Low Low came on stage as ZZ Top, complete fuzzy guitars and horseshoe moustache on drummer Mimi Parker. The band Duluth band have been busy playing support dates for Slowdive on this current tour .... BNLX Minneapolis’ own BNLX took the stage at NYC’s Pianos Thursday night, playing a 45-minute set for a small, but engaging audience. The backroom of Pianos where the band played is of … Flavor Crystals Flavor Crystals were up next, they played hard psych rock in poor lighting. Very little lyrics, but lots of high energy guitar playing with emphasis on psych and kraut rock. …

DRONE NOT DRONES
at Cedar Cultural Center
Friday 01/30/15, 6pm ($20)
thecedar.org

A list of who's who in Minneapolis will be at this Drone Not Drones charity show, to raise money for Doctors Without Borders. The unified 28-hour "song" will feature everyone from Alan Sparhawk (of Low), Brokeback (ft. members of Tortoise & The Sea and Cake), Drone Man Winter (ft. members of Trampled By Turtles & Dead Man Winter), Food Pyramid, P.O.S. (drone set), BNLX, Moss Folk, Paul Metzger, Dosh, Invisible Boy (Poliça, Vampire Hands), Flavor Crystals, Chatham Rise, Jet Legs (Hammerhead, Seawhores, The Cows) and more.

Tentative schedule (subject and likely to change!):

07:00p: International Novelty Gamelan
07:30p: Jesse Petersen
08:00p: Food Pyramid
08:45p: BNLX
09:15p: Flavor Crystals + BNLX
09:30p: Flavor Crystals
10:00p: Drone Man Winter
10:45p: Alan Sparhawk (of Low)
11:30p: Michael Lewis
12:15p: Pagoda ov Thunderboldt
01:00a: Jet Legs
01:30a: Chatham Rise
02:00a: Old Moon
02:30a: Dead Gurus
03:00a: Dosh
03:30a: Comb Boats
04:00a: Transitional Species
04:45a: Andy Nuebauer
05:30a: Ghostband
06:00a: Aklo, Brainscratch, Cyclomite
06:30a: Pandemonium Defender
07:00a: Nightingale #3
07:30a: Paul Metzger (sunrise)
08:00a: John Zuma Saint-Pelvyn
08:30a: HOLDING HANDS / MQ-1
09:00a: Jeremy Ylvisaker
09:30a: TYTE JEFF
10:00a: Finger Pressure
10:30a: Sativa Flats
11:00a: Ventures Cover Band
11:30a: DKO
12:00n: DT Phone Drone
12:30p: Drone Strike Mike & the Bates Bombers
01:00p: Sagitta Gone
01:30p: Les Trembleurs
02:00p: The ---- (unconfirmed)
02:30p: (ALANS)
03:00p: Roy Orb, D.MT.
03:30p: 555
04:00p: Solar Pawn
04:30p: Tim Kaiser
05:00p: P.O.S
05:30p: Robot Rickshaw (drone robots)
06:00p: Noise Quean Ant
06:30p: StoLyette
07:00p: Invisible Boy
07:30p: Paris 1919
08:15p: Makr
08:45p: American Cream
09:30p: Brokeback
10:15p: Moss Folk

Read More Saint Motel Opening up for the Arctic Monkeys was Saint Motel. I had low expectations, but by the first song, they had already won me over with their brass / dance / pop / Caribbean / jazzy sound. … Moth & the Flame On their brief set, TMTF played tracks from their debut 2011 album and also some tracks from their Ampersand (&) EP, including "Sorry" and "Wishing Well". ....

SAINT MOTEL
at 7th Street Entry
Saturday 01/31/15, 8pm ($10)
first-avenue.com

Touring on their way to Coachella 2015 (and I'm assuming they'll likely play SXSW 2015 as well), Saint Motel will be stopping by Minneapolis' 7th Street Entry on Saturday, January 31st.

You may recall that we caught them with Arctic Monkeys last year and was blown away by their performance.

Saint Motel's latest release is My Type EP, which came out mid-August last year via Parlophone UK.

Jess' favorite band in the world The Moth And The Flame will open the show. We've been writing about TMATF since 2012, but finally got a chance to see them in person last year (their first time in Minneapolis).

Tour dates:

01/22/15 Scottsdale, AZ Pub Rock
01/23/15 El Paso, TX Lowbrow Palace
01/24/15 Austin, TX Stubb's Bar-B-Q
01/25/15 Dallas, TX Three Links Event Center
01/27/15 St. Louis, MO The Demo
01/30/15 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern
01/31/15 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry
02/03/15 Denver, CO Larimer Lounge
02/04/15 Salt Lake City, UT Kilby Court
02/07/15 San Francisco, CA The Chapel
03/06/15 Amsterdam Kleine Zaal At Paradiso
04/12/15 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival
04/19/15 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Placebo at Mill City Nights, Minneapolis (16 Oct 2014)

Setlist B3 For What It's Worth Loud Like Love Every You Every Me Scene of the Crime A Million Little Pieces Twenty Years Too Many Friends Rob the Bank Purify One of a Kind Exit Wounds Meds Song to Say Goodbye Special K The Bitter End -- Encore -- Begin the End Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) (Kate Bush cover) Post Blue Infra-red Tour Dates 10/20/14 Seattle, WA Showbox SoDo 10/23/14 San Francisco, CA The Masonic 10/24/14 Los Angeles, CA Club Nokia 11/03/14 Oporto, Portugal Coliseu Do Porto 11/04/14 Lisbon, Portugal Coliseu Lisboa Read More Placebo It's been a very long time since I saw Placebo. I remember seeing them at First Avenue in 2001 with Idlewild... so it should be nice to see the band again, some 13 years later. .... Moth & the Flame The first band to go up was a favorite here at W♥M, The Moth and The Flame. Chatting with the guys beforehand they informed me that they had ....

London's Placebo are currently on tour in support of their seventh studio album Loud Like Love, stopping by Mill City Nights in Minneapolis, last night.

The Moth and the Flame

Opening up for Placebo was The Moth and the Flame, their very first time in Minneapolis. We've been following the band since 2012, so it's a relief to finally get to see the band in person.

On their brief set, TMTF played tracks from their debut 2011 album and also some tracks from their Ampersand (&) EP, including "Sorry" and "Wishing Well".

Singer Brandon Robbins stressed how lucky they were to support Placebo on their US tour, and mentioned that Placebo were the nicest people.

If you recall, we've been talking about Placebo's Loud Like Love album since its announcement in May 2013... We speculated a possible World Tour at the time, and very glad to see that the London band is taking their live shows to America.

Placebo at First Avenue Ticket (2001)

As far as I know, the band has only been to Minneapolis in 2001 (which I saw at First Avenue) and again in 2006 at The Fine Line Music Café (with She Wants Revenge). Given the smaller capacity of the Fine Line, I'm assuming it sold out quickly.

So it's been a long time since Placebo's been in Minneapolis, and we welcomed the band with open arms. The fans who turned up to show, mostly alternative and goth fans, danced and sang their adoration for Placebo.

Brian Molko

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Brian Molko looked and sounded fantastic. Although original drummer Steve Hewitt left the band in 2007, I don't think anyone missed him on this tour... I have to say that new drummer Steve Forrest did an amazing job, spending the entire set shirtless to show off his various tattoos. The massive grin on his face tells me that this was a job that he love doing.

Also worth noting is that Placebo had over 20 guitars on the sideline and by the soundboard. I'm not sure why they needed so many guitars, I think they only swap out about five of them.

Setlist

Half the set was devoted to Loud Like Love, including the title track, "Scene Of The Crime", "A Million Little Pieces", "Too Many Friends", "Rob The Bank", "Purify", "Exit Wounds", "Begin The End". Old favorites, like "Every You Every Me" and "Special K" got the loudest cheers from the audience.

The biggest surprise to me was hearing the first few notes of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)". At first, I thought it was a joke, but then realized that indeed Placebo was covering the song. Molko is known for his androgynous lyrics and appearance, so covering Bush's song made a lot of sense to me.

Placebo continues their US tour, which they will end at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, California. Their latest record Loud Like Love is out now on Universal Music Enterprises.

Placebo at Mill City Nights, Minneapolis (16 Oct 2014)

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Rocktober: October 17, 2014

Read More Beats Antique Beats Antique is currently in the middle of their "A Thousand Faces" tour, stopping by, on Halloween night, at Mill City Nights in Minneapolis. The show was incredible, thanks to the sold out status ....

Here are shows taking place in Minneapolis/St Paul on October 17, 2014.

BEATS ANTIQUE with Emancipator, Shpongle
at Myth Nightclub
Friday 10/17/14, 8pm
$25: mythlive.com

When I saw Beats Antique on Halloween last year, it was literally one of the best shows I've ever seen. Part of it was because the audience was really into it (nearly 99% of them dressed up) and also because of their impression light and stage show. The stage was custom built by Obscura Digital, using funding from their Kickstarter campaign. I hope they take that programming with them for this new, current tour called "Creature Carnival".

Emancipator and Shpongle are set to open.

Tour dates:

10/15/14 Madison, WI Orpheum Theater
10/16/14 Fargo, ND The Venue
10/17/14 Saint Paul, MN Myth
10/18/14 Chicago, IL Riviera Theatre
10/19/14 Chicago, IL Riviera Theatre
10/21/14 Boston, MA House Of Blues Boston
10/22/14 Washington, DC Echostage
10/23/14 New York, NY Best Buy Theater
10/24/14 Wallingford, CT Dome
10/25/14 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory
10/26/14 Syracuse, NY F Shed
10/29/14 Nashville, TN Marathon Music Works
10/30/14 Asheville, NC Thomas Wolfe Aud
10/30/14 Asheville, NC ExploreAsheville
10/31/14 Suwannee Hulaween
11/01/14 Fort Lauderdale, FL Revolution
11/05/14 Magna, UT The Great Saltair
11/06/14 Broomfield, CO 1stBank Center
11/07/14 Las Vegas, NV Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas
11/08/14 Los Angeles, CA Shrine Expo Hall
12/31/14 Sea Of Dreams NYE

Read More Placebo Placebo is back for their seventh studio album Loud Like Love, coming out September 17th, 2013, via Universal Music. This coincide with their World tour .... Moth & the Flame The first band to go up was a favorite here at W♥M, The Moth and The Flame. Chatting with the guys beforehand they informed me that they had ....

PLACEBO w/ Moth and the Flame
at Mill City Nights
Friday 10/17/14, 8pm
$29.50 / $32 (Door): millcitynights.com

It's been a very long time since I saw Placebo. I remember seeing them at First Avenue in 2001 with Idlewild... so it should be nice to see the band again, some 13 years later.

The London-based band are currently touring in support of their new album Loud Like Love, which came out last September 2013.

Opening up for Placebo is The Moth and the Flame, a band that Jess is in love with.

Tour dates:

10/13/14 Montreal, QC Metropolis
10/15/14 Toronto, ON Sound Academy
10/16/14 Chicago, IL House Of Blues
10/17/14 Minneapolis, MN Mill City Nights
10/20/14 Seattle, WA Showbox SoDo
10/23/14 San Francisco, CA The Masonic
10/24/14 Los Angeles, CA Club Nokia
11/03/14 Oporto, Portugal Coliseu Do Porto
11/04/14 Lisbon, Portugal Coliseu Lisboa

Read More Markéta Irglová I think I just saw the best music movie recently. It's called Once and it stars Glen Hansard, from The Frames, and Markéta Irglová. ....

MARKETA IRGLOVA with Rosi Golan
at Cedar Cultural Center
Friday 10/17/14, 8pm
$22 / $25 (Door): thecedar.org

If you've ever seen the film Once, chances are you fell in love with Frames singer Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová. After the film, the two became a couple and became The Swell Season ... but ultimately the two broke up. While Hansard recently came through town, it is now Irglova's turn.

The Icelandic singer's new album MUNA is out now and available in all popular formats, including digital, CD, and a recent vinyl pressing.

Rosi Golan: Fortuna

Irglova will be stopping by Minneapolis this Friday, along with Israeli songstress Rosi Golan. Golan will likely play some tracks off her 2008 debut The Drifter and the Gypsy, as well as her recent EP Fortuna, which came out last year on Gypsy Betch.

Tour Dates:

10/13/2014 Washington, D.C. The Hamilton
10/14/2014 Charlotte, NC Visulite Theatre
10/15/2014 Nashville, TN City Winery
10/16/2014 Chicago, IL Old Town School
10/17/2014 Minneapolis. MN Cedar Cultural Center
10/20/2014 Vancouver, BC St. James Hall
10/21/2014 Seattle, WA Triple Door
10/22/2014 Portland, OR Alberta Rose Theatre
10/23/2014 San Francisco, CA Bimbo's 365 Club
10/24/2014 Los Angeles, CA Hotel Café
10/25/2014 Los Angeles, CA Hotel Café

Read More Sondre Lerche Sondre Lerche kicked off his tour Tuesday night at the Bowery Ballroom promoting his new album, Please, released the same day. Playing to a full house of devoted fans, Lerche ....

SONDRE LERCHE with Teen
at Turf Club
Friday 10/17/14, 8pm
$20: turfclub.net

We already saw Norwegian singer/songwriter Sondre Lerche in New York, in September. Lerche will be making his way over to Minnesota, at the Turf Club in Saint Paul this October 17th.

As previously mentioned, TEEN will be the opener.

Tour dates:

10/15/14 Denver, CO Bluebird Theater
10/16/14 Lincoln, NE Vega
10/17/14 Saint Paul, MN Turf Club
10/18/14 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
10/19/14 Detroit, MI Magic Stick
10/20/14 Pittsburgh, PA Altar Bar
10/27/14 Paris, France Le Divan du Monde
10/29/14 London Oslo
10/30/14 Leeds Brudenell Social Club
11/02/14 Brussels, Belgium Botanique
11/03/14 Berlin, Germany Kantine Am Berghain
11/04/14 Cologne, Germany MTC
11/05/14 Amsterdam Paradiso
11/06/14 Hamburg Prinzenbar Konzerte Disco
11/11/14 Copenhagen VEGA House Of Music

Read More Rural Alberta Advantage The Rural Alberta Advantage is tamer. Their audience is a little older (beards, button shirts, beer-drinkers) and I was impressed at how many people knew the RAA songs ....

RURAL ALBERTA ADVANTAGE with July Talk
at First Avenue
Friday 10/17/14, 8pm
$20: first-avenue.com

The last time we saw The Rural Alberta Advantage, it was at a very, very sold out show at the tiny 7th Street Entry. This time around, the band will be playing at a much bigger capacity venue - First Avenue's mainroom.

Canadian indie folk outfit is out on tour in support of their latest album Mended With Gold... and for this tour, it's written that it will be more intimate with a mixture of new material and old favorites.

Opening up the show will be July Talk, an alt-blues rock group with a new debut US EP called Guns + Ammunition, out now on Island Records.

Tour Dates:

Oct-14, Chicago, IL, Metro *
Oct-15, Milwaukee, WI, Turner Hall *
Oct-16, Omaha, NE, Slowdown *
Oct-17, Minneapolis, MN, First Avenue *
Oct-20, Edmonton, AB, Starlite (2 shows) *
Oct-21, MacEwan Hall, Calgary, AB *
Oct-23, Vancouver, BC, Commodore *
Oct-24, Seattle, WA, The Crocodile *
Oct-25, Portland, OR, Doug Fir Lounge *
Oct-27, San Francisco, CA, The Independent *
Oct-28, Santa Ana, CA, Constellation Room *
Oct-29, Los Angeles, CA, The Roxy Theatre *
Oct-30, San Diego, CA, Soda Bar *
Nov-01, Salt Lake City, UT, The State Room *
Nov-02, Denver, CO, Hi Dive*
Nov-04, Dallas, TX, Club Dada *
Nov-05, Austin, TX, Red 7 *
Nov-06, New Orleans, LA, The Beatnik *
Nov-07, Birmingham, AL, Bottletree Cafe *
Nov-08, Atlanta, GA, The Earl *
Nov-09, Chapel Hill, NC, Local 506 *
Nov-11, Washington, DC, Rock & Roll Hotel *
Nov-12, Philadelphia, PA, First Unitarian Church *
Nov-13, New York, NY, Bowery Ballroom *
Nov-14, New York, NY, Bowery Ballroom *
Nov-15, Cambridge, MA, The Sinclair *
Nov-21, Birmingham, UK, Hare and Hounds #
Nov-22, Glasgow, UK, Broadcast #
Nov-24, Leeds, UK, Brundenell Social Club #
Nov-25, Manchester, UK, Soup Kitchen #
Nov-26, London, UK, Islington Assembly Hall #
Nov-27, Amsterdam, NL, Paradiso Upstairs
Nov-29, Munster, DE, Gleiss22 #
Dec-01, Cologne, DE, Luxor #
Dec-02 Hamburg, DE, Knust #
Dec-03, Berlin, DE, Lido #
Dec-04, Munich, DE, Atomic Café #
Dec-05, Frankfurt, DE, Zoom #
Dec-18, Toronto, ON, Danforth Music Hall

*with July Talk
# with PS I Love You

Read More Betty Who Just in time for Valentine, Betty Who's single "Heartbreak Dream" is coming out February 18th. Who cited Katy Perry and Robyn as massive influences on her music ....

BETTY WHO with Joywave, Great Good Fine OK
at Fine Line Music Cafe
Friday 10/17/14, 8pm
$15: finelinemusic.com

Take Me When You Go is the debut LP from Betty Who. The record came out October 7th via RCA Records.

To support the new record, Betty Who will head out on her "The High Society Tour", alongside Joywave and Great Good Fine OK.

Exciting news is that Who will be supporting Katy Perry in Australia this year!

Tour dates:

10/13/14 Toronto, ON Virgin Mobile Mod Club
10/14/14 Chicago, IL House Of Blues
10/15/14 Indianapolis, IN Deluxe
10/17/14 Minneapolis, MN Fine Line Music Cafe
10/18/14 Lawrence, KS Granada Theatre
10/20/14 Denver, CO Marquis Theater
10/21/14 Salt Lake City, UT The Complex
10/24/14 Portland, OR Hawthorne Theatre
10/25/14 Vancouver, BC Venue
10/26/14 Seattle, WA The Neptune
10/28/14 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
10/29/14 West Hollywood, CA House Of Blues
10/30/14 Anaheim, CA House Of Blues
11/07/14 Perth Perth Arena *
11/08/14 Perth Perth Arena *
11/11/14 Hindmarsh Adelaide Entertainment*
11/12/14 Hindmarsh Adelaide Entertainment*
11/14/14 Melbourne Rod Laver Arena *
11/15/14 Melbourne Rod Laver Arena *
11/18/14 Melbourne Rod Laver Arena *
11/19/14 Melbourne Rod Laver Arena *
11/21/14 Sydney Allphones Arena *
11/22/14 Sydney Allphones Arena *
11/24/14 Sydney Allphones Arena *
11/25/14 Sydney Allphones Arena *
11/27/14 Boondall Brisbane Entertainment*
11/28/14 Boondall Brisbane Entertainment *

* with Katy Perry

Read More Into It. Over It. Into It. Over It. is proud to premiere the music video for "The Shaking Of Leaves". The John Komar (Compositing) and Reza Iman (Art and Animation) directed video ....

INTO IT. OVER IT. with Tancred, various
at Triple Rock Social Club
Friday 10/17/14, 8pm
$12 / $14 (Door): triplerocksocialclub.com

Indie rock Into It. Over It. (the stagename for Chicago musician Evan Thomas Weiss) is on tour around the area... biding his time so he can head out on tour with his friend Lemuria in November and December.

Normally the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis book three bands... but not this Friday. There are four bands on the bill: Into It. Over It., Tancred, And We Danced, and Self-Evident.

Upcoming Tour Dates:

10/17 - Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock
10/18 - Fargo, ND - The Aquarium
10/19 - Billings, MT - Railyard Ale House
10/22 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent *
10/24 - Los Angeles, CA - The Roxy *
10/25 - Los Angeles, CA - The Roxy *
10/26 - Pomona, CA - The Glass House *
10/27 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom *
10/28 - El Paso, TX - The Lowbrow Palace
10/31 - 11/02 - Gainesville, FL - Fest 13
11/03 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade *
11/04 - Greensboro, NC - The Blind Tiger *

* = With Mineral

vu (vu@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

On An On, Hands, and the Moth and the Flame @ Satellite, Los Angeles 9/11

Tour Dates 09.13 Tuscon, AZ @ Solar Culture * 09.14 Scottsdale, AZ @ Pub Rock * 09.16 Austin, TX @ Mohawk * 09.17 Dallas, TX @ Three Links * 09.19 Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge * * with Hands Read More On An On On An On rocked the house for two packed shows at the Great Escape festival in Brighton (daytime at The Courtyard and night time at Coalition on May 17th). These guys had so much … Hands Brand-spanking new indie band Hands will be playing in their hometown of Los Angeles next Wednesday, along with the Chicago-based trio On An On … The Moth & Flame The Moth & Flame at Bootleg Theater, Los Angeles (11/06/12) I could sit here behind this screen and proceed to enumerate the abundantly complimentary reviews …

The Satellite in Silverlake was buzzing last night as three solid bands got ready to play for a packed house. It’s rare nowadays, with so many artists out there, that three exceptional acts play back to back. One is usually a hit or miss...but this was certainly not the case here.

THE MOTH AND THE FLAME

The first band to go up was a favorite here at W♥M, The Moth and The Flame. Chatting with the guys beforehand they informed me that they had finished recording a new EP in Connecticut (produced by Joey Waronker from Atoms for Peace). This feat along with touring in Europe and having residency in LA this summer, these guys have undoubtable been swamped; however their fresh faces and charming attitudes would have proven otherwise. As the crowd gathered excitedly as the boys finished setting up onstage, it’s apparent they are gaining more and more recognition here in LA. They opened up with The Hunt, an honest, hauntingly beautiful song with a lullaby kind of melody that carries you another place in time. Brandon’s vocals emulate that of a wise man filled with sorrow, much older than his 25 years. This band adds natural layering and harmonies like you’ve never seen before, and after hearing three of their new tracks from their upcoming album, it’s apparent they are cultivating a legendary sound that is intelligently calculated with every note.

HANDS

Next to rock the mic was LA’s own Hands, and do these guys know how to turn up the fun panel. Starting the set with a track off their new album Synesthesia Videolove, the energy was pumping and the crowd was elated. Although the guys drove down from San Francisco until the wee hours of the morning, they were jumping around onstage like bolts of lightning. Frontman Geoff Halliday’s energy is like that of photosynthesis...he gives it to the crowd and they give it right back. The drums were killer on Nothing but Animals, a very spacey, electronic track. It was the last song The Game is Changing Us that the crowd really went wild for...it’s a happy little song you’ll want to dance in circles with friends to.

On An On hit the stage with All the Horses, a dreamy tune that immediately changed the mood into a more chill vibe. The always clever Alissa on keys shouts into the crowd “Feel free to dance!” This band is a pleasure to watch... lead singer Nate’s smile goes on for days and the camaraderie between them all is undeniable. They absolutely nailed a Bjork cover Unison; the harmonies in this track are fantastically breathtaking. Nate continued to thank his audience throughout the entire set, “You guys are really sweet. I can’t believe how many people are here.” It also happened to be their one year anniversary of their first show ever. My favorite track off the album Give In, Ghosts, came last before the encore. A lovely end to a brilliant evening.

On An On at Satellite Los Angeles 9/11, Los Angeles (09/11/13)

jess ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ itsonanon.com ♥ handssounds.com ♥ howwewokeup.com

The Moth & Flame at Bootleg Theater, Los Angeles (11/06/12)

Tour Dates 11/16 Velour Provo, UT The Moth & The Flame Mark Garbett (keys/vocals) Nate Pyfer (programming) Brandon Robbins (vocals/guitar) Andrew Tolman (drums) Read More The Moth & the Flame Introducing: The Moth & the Flame. … From what I've gathered, they're a trio (Brandon Robbins on guitar/vocals, Mark Garbett on keys/vocals, and Nate Pyfer on everything else) from Provo, Utah. ...

I could sit here behind this screen and proceed to enumerate the abundantly complimentary reviews of this incipient band, but I’d rather give you a personalized testament of how their music managed to momentarily alter my perception. This is what albums and live music have always been intended to do-galvanize the public. Their debut self-titled album was released last year and has been buzzing around the world ever since. This divinely polished album is a mix of ethereal, dreamy acoustics and hard-hitting instrumentals that will leave you floating in a cinematic bliss long after a song ends.

I first received the album a month ago, after viewing their song “Lullaby II” on Youtube. For the time being, it’s only available in its physical form. And while this may be bothersome to a few tech geeks, I’d like to believe that there are still those old souls out there that either enjoy the tangibility of a CD or the sound of a stylus grinding against the groove of a record. You know what sound I’m speaking of-the transfixing melody of time-honored nostalgia that has since diminished with the creation virtual music stores like ITunes and Spotify. The album’s artwork is an integral part of the listening experience. You’re a visual and verbal spectator.

I caught up with the guys before their show last night at the Bootleg Theater in Echo Park. If you haven’t been, you must visit. There ain’t no moonshine or actual bootleg liquor, but it most certainly possesses the ambiance of a seedy antiquated speakeasy. Frontman Brandon Robbins (lead vocals, guitar) and Mark Garbett (keys, vocals) sat with me and graciously talked about the consensus of much of the album. Inquiring of the commanding lyrics in “How We Woke Up”, Brandon explains “Sometimes lyrics just come to me and I write a song in 15 minutes. ‘How We Woke Up’ involves the feeling of things being messed up and reaching a point of redemption.” These two have a calming demeanor and were a delight to interview.

They opened up their set with “&” and the audience was immediately enthralled in the antics onstage. With Nate (who also produced the album) creating all kinds of eclectic sounds and Brandon’s flawless vocals, these guys are pros at effortless stage presence. From the experimental guitar pedals to the warm melodic harmonies, M&F certainly have a reminiscent feel of 90’s era mixed with infectious alternative rock. From “Maker” to my favorite track on the album “The Hunt”, the overall feel of the set was warm and magical, making you feel like pulling on a cozy jacket and watching the stars under a cold night sky. They ended with “How We Woke Up”, certainly a wow-factor hit I’m sure will continue to gain momentum the more people start finding out about Provo’s new gem.

M&F have undertones of serenely gorgeous sounds like Radiohead and The National, but at the end of the day they are their own entity. Again for more info and tour dates, go to howwewokeup.com .

The Moth & Flame at Bootleg Theater, Los Angeles (11/06/12)

jess ♥ howwewokeup.com

The Moth and The Flame

Introducing: The Moth & the Flame. I can tell you that it's really hard to write about a band when they're so cryptic. The only biography I got was that they're into "robot farming" and nothing else. From what I've gathered, they're a trio (Brandon Robbins on guitar/vocals, Mark Garbett on keys/vocals, and Nate Pyfer on everything else) from Provo, Utah. Their debut self-titled album came out late last year and you can stream the whole thing their soundcloud page. The other thing you should know is that they are popular in their hometown, selling out their 11/11/11 gig and forcing them to add an additional date. I've never heard of them, but our Los Angeles contact, Jess is all over this band. She'll be reviewing their LA show, and hopefully get me an interview with the band on November 3rd. I actually had a really hard time locating Eagle Rock Loft online. This event is FREE, the address is: 4253 Eagle Rock Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90065-4404 Tour information: 11/03/12 11/05/12 11/06/12 11/16/12 Eagle Rock Loft Party - Los Angeles, CA Hunnypot Radio Show - Santa Monica, CA Bootleg Theater - Los Angeles, CA Velour - Provo, UT

vu ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ howwewokeup.com